Heads high despite Tusker's Confederation Cup exit - Mette

The brewers eventually lost the tie 2-1 on aggregate, meaning the Tanzanian side beat them to a CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage Spot.

Mette expressed satisfaction on his team’s intensity and valiant efforts to turn around a 1-0 home loss in Nyayo Stadium. 

“The team is very sad and disappointed, but I am proud of the players. Today, we have no regrets. If we had played with the same intensity, energy and determination in the first leg, we would have won 2-0 or 3-0,” said Mette.

“I still believe we are the better team. Some of our players did not perform well in the first leg, but today, everyone delivered a top performance, both those who started and those who came on as substitutes,” added Mette.

Mette remained optimistic about the core of young players and coaching staff saying they will learn from this exit, and purpose to come back even stronger next year.

“We failed to turn up in the first leg at home, and I think we were punished for that. We are a young team with young players and a young coaching staff, and the club had never reached the group stage. I hope the players learn from this experience and that we come back stronger next year.

“If we take into account the chances created across both legs, I think Singida had fewer opportunities than we did. However, this is the reality at the highest level. Some teams that go far in African competitions do not necessarily make many passes or dominate possession, but when they get an opportunity, they take it.

"That is the main lesson we must learn from this team. Tactically and technically, there is not much we need to learn from them, but some of their players can make the difference,” Mette explained.

Despite the exit, the financial boost will definitely be a silver lining, with CAF having confirmed that clubs eliminated during the preliminary rounds of the competition will receive a solidarity payment of $100,000 (approximately Ksh 12.99 million) to help cover travel and other logistical expenses.

Attention will now shift to domestic football, beginning with Thursday's Kenyan Premier League fixture against Mathare United as they look to put the disappointment behind them and refocus on their league ambitions.